FEATHER SOUND -- Recently installed Pinellas County Democratic Party chairman Ramsay McLauchlan predicts it will take two years to make his party strong enough to rid itself of internal strife and win more local races.

Speaking at a Tiger Bay Club luncheon, McLauchlan also told the crowd that success will take money, organization and, most important, a coherent message from candidates, including six in the Legislature.

"I'm not sure that we have, even among our elected officials who have won, done a great job of trying to get out there and talk about what they're trying to do in Tallahassee, why it makes a difference that they're there," he said.

One thing the party picked up after President Obama's win: an e-mail list of 25,000 local voters.

One audience question: What about McLauchlan's support of primary loser Hillary Clinton? He doesn't expect that to hinder the local party, he said, getting some chuckles.

"I think the short answer is no. I'm not sure Barack Obama knows I didn't support him," McLauchlan said, calling it a "lapse in judgement."

David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

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